Take time to smell the Roses!

After a extremely hectic few days we feel this about sums it up!!!!

Why not!!!!!

Thank Goodness It's Friday....

I think as everyone would agree that after a hectic week it's always nice for Friday to roll around! We are working all weekend so I guess there is no harm in dreaming.....

How appropriate don't you think??

Say a Little Prayer For you ✞

I have to say that I have a special spot for Religious Memorabilia. This little Commemorative Gospel Book was given to my husband just after he was born. The Rosary Beads are all handmade in fresh Rose Petals & have come straight from the Vatican. They sure do smell divine & are real little treasures!

Handmade Rose Petal Rosary Beads with 1953
Coronation Gospel according to St John.

Lou Lou Skip To My Lou.....

Well, for any of you out there with loads of energy we have the right thing for you! These original Saltaire Bobbin Skipping Ropes should do the trick! They look great don't you think? What a clever idea!

Saltaire is an early planned settlement near Bradford in Yorkshire England. It was created in 1853 by Sir Titus Salt a manufacturer of Alpaca Wool fabrics. The community named it after it's founder (Salt) and the nearby river (Aire) was built beside large Woollen Mills on the banks of the Leeds River.

All you need is Love....

Can't believe we are already celebrating Valentine's Day. Next thing we know it will be Easter!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone both here & in our hearts...

xxx

Image courtesy - Art & Photography

Chief Cook & Bottle Washer!

So sorry we have been off 'The Air' over the last few days. Last week a 40ft Container arrived chocked to the brim with Vintage favourites like Original Milk Bottles, Wire Crates, Timber Crates, Bobbins etc, etc, etc!!!!! To say we are totally fed up washing bottles is an understatement but how gorgeous are they when scrubbed & sparkling clean! Nothing like the character & charm from a bygone era......

'Peplaus Dairy' Pint Milk Bottles from Connecticut........yummy!

I ♥ New York...

Whilst unpacking our Container from the USA I was  looking at some of our goodies from the farming belt near NY,Connecticut,New Hampshire, Massachusetts & dreaming of life in The Hamptons close by on Long Island. There is something so unique about goods from the USA, they can't seem to reproduce this charm & unique character anywhere else don't you think?

Web image courtesy - Hamptons Style

Shuttle Bug!

What on earth are these I hear you say? They are known as 'Shuttles' which were used in the manufacturing process to weave wool or cotton thread. The Shuttles below are known as 'Flying Shuttles' & they have metal capped ends & a pirn (bobbin) of weft thread. What a quirky item that has so much charm & character.

They are part of our Industrial Heritage & date back to 1785.

Don't you just love little bits of History? I surely do!

Flying Shuttles available from Picket fence Imports.

Cookie Monster....

I thought today I would dig into my creative side & do some homely cooking. With the onslaught of my favourite shows like My Kitchen Rules & Masterchef to give inspiration, the sad thing is finding time to indulge in doing something for yourself & loved ones. Wow, my house smells very yummy with the aroma of all these little treats!!! Bon Appetit!!

There is nothing better than homemade biccies don't
you think??

What a Basket Case!

In the next day or so we will be taking delivery of our new stock from the USA. The shipment has the last available of the Old Woollen Mill Skip Baskets in it. They are extremely hard to come by & were all handmade in France then exported to the UK to use in the Woollen factories throughout the Industrial Era. The Old Mills have now closed but these baskets are so gorgeous, held together with sheep gut hinging & old leather workers belts, even hand beaten metal strapping rusting with age to give character. Some have Mill stamps, some with Lot numbers, some just plain. These just can't be reproduced today with all that patina & charm (and lanolin!). We feel very fortunate that they were sourced for us & I hate letting them go but still love to share.....sometimes! Limited supply only, once gone that's it, the end of our Industrial Heritage.....

Photo taken under an Old Oak Tree in the USA
Limited supply of these from Picket Fence
Imports. 

To Dye For...

For those of you who are asking....what on earth are these? I must say a rather unique Industrial Artifact. They are Dye tubes used in the process of colouring cottons & wool in the factories across the USA & Europe. They are highly sort after by Event & Party Co - ordinators for table centre pieces & make a Vinatge Wedding look complete with Tea Lights inside or wound with ribbon or raffia. What a novel idea don't you think? Sure to make an interesting talking point!

Industrial Dye tubes with Tea Light Votives inside.
Available from - Picket Fence Imports

This image give you an idea how the tubes were used in the Dying
process. They used either cotton or wool wound around the tubes
and thrown into large vats filled with coloured Dye.
Very unusual & unique....